Baffert wins second consecutive G3 Iowa Derby

Sunday | June 26, 2011

Prayer for Relief bounded to a two-length victory in the $250,000 Iowa Derby (G3) June 25 at Prairie Meadows, giving Bob Baffert his second straight winner, and third overall, in the 1 1/16 mile contest for 3-year-olds (VIDEO).

Concord Point won last year’s renewal, while Captain Steve won the second running of the race in 2000.

Zayat Stable’s Prayer for Relief was making his second start of 2011 and came into the race off an allowance win at Hollywood Park on May 29. Sent off at nearly 6-1, the son of Jump Start broke well from the rail to assume the second spot going into the first turn. Rafael Bejarano kept him on the rail until he went three wide into the stretch to surge to the front and edge clear in the final furlong.

Prayer for Relief had run in a stakes once in his five previous starts, finishing second in the Real Quiet S. at Hollywood Park last November. The dark bay colt earned $150,000 for the victory, which extended his career bankroll to $214,000. He has won three of six career starts.

Prayer for Relief was bought by Zayat for $80,000 at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt is a half brother to two-time stakes winner Twin Sparks, who set a world record of 1:06.49 for six furlongs in the 2009 Caballos del Sol H.

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